Medium storing program selecting electronic ticket, electronic ticket processing apparatus and electronic ticket selection method

PRIORITY INFORMATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2005-041652, filed Feb. 18, 2005 and 2005-050502, filed Feb. 25, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique for selecting an optimum electronic ticket from among a plurality of electronic tickets.

2. Description of the Related Art

A technique involving the use of electronic tickets is known as a technique for preventing abuses and illegal dispositions of digital content such as image and text data.

In an example system using electronic tickets, a digital content provider delivers digital content to a user after encrypting (encapsulating) the digital content. An electronic ticket is required to decrypt the encrypted content. The electronic ticket is issued in accordance with the characteristics of the hardware such as a computer employed by the user, and is provided to the user. Consequently, use of the digital content is permitted only to a legitimate user using the computer corresponding to an electronic ticket.

Varied states of operational authority can also be given to the electronic ticket. For example, it is possible to set whether or not the authority of a printing operation or an editing operation of a digital content is given to a user. Thereby, it becomes possible to permit, for example, only the browsing of the digital content by a user and to restrict other operations.

As described above, the use electronic tickets can prevent abuse of digital content while realizing various forms of providing the content. For example, a plurality of electronic tickets may be provided with respect to one item of digital content.

When a plurality of electronic tickets effective to a certain digital content exist, conventionally a user compares the contents of the electronic tickets, and selects a desired electronic ticket. That the option of an electronic ticket is granted to a user also has an aspect of raising the degree of freedom of use of the electronic ticket. However, for example, when the aspects of operational authority vary among a plurality of electronic tickets, a user is forced to spend time and effort to select an electronic ticket while comparing the various levels or aspects of operational authority. In particular, when using a plurality of aspects of operational authority provided separately by a plurality of electronic tickets, selecting a suitable electronic ticket is complicated and, at times, difficult.

When using a plurality of aspects of operational authority provided by a plurality of electronic tickets in combination, there is a point which should be taken into consideration also from the side of the processing of the computer in which the electronic tickets are used. In the case where a digital content is used with an electronic ticket, the computer using the electronic ticket confirms whether or not the electronic ticket is effective one to the digital content, and performs the processing releasing the encapsulation of the ticket is effective. A series of such authentication processings may undesirabley create an enormous data processing burden on the computer.

Consequently, when a plurality of electronic tickets is used, it is desirable to select an electronic ticket efficient for authentication processing in a computer in addition to realizing the combination of an operation authority advantageous for a user.

Moreover, for example, when mutually different using conditions are imparted to a plurality of electronic tickets, the user is forced to select usage condition while comparing the using conditions. In particular, it is not always easy for the user to select an advantageous ticket.

For example, if a user has electronic tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, the electronic ticket <b>1</b> permitting the use of two sets of content A and B without no limitations, and the electronic ticket <b>2</b> permitting the use of content sets B and C only a specified number of times, then, in the case where the user uses the electronic ticket <b>2</b> for using the content B, the value of the electronic ticket <b>2</b> decreases, and consequently the usable number of times the content C can be accessed decreases. This cannot be said to be an advantageous ticket selection for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the above, the present invention provides a technique for selecting the optimum electronic ticket among a plurality of electronic tickets is provided.

One or more computer-readable media on which is stored a program for selecting an optimum electronic ticket among a plurality of electronic tickets for imparting rights of use of content, the stored program causing a computer to execute functions comprising: extracting a plurality of electronic tickets corresponding to a content; and selecting the optimum electronic ticket among the extracted electronic tickets by comparing conditions of use of content included in the respective extracted electronic tickets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a functional configuration diagram of the inside of a computer operating in accordance with the programs stored by a medium according to an Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a view for illustrating selection processing of an electronic ticket;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a functional configuration diagram in the inside of a computer operating in accordance with the programs stored in a medium according to an Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a view for illustrating selection processing of an electronic ticket;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a view for illustrating an image for setting a criterion; and

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6A and 6B</figref> are views for illustrating images with which an electronic ticket is selected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, Embodiments of the present invention are described in connection with the attached drawings.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a view for illustrating an Embodiment 1 of the present invention. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows the functional configuration in the inside of a computer which operates in accordance with the programs stored in the medium according to the present invention. The programs stored in the medium according to the present invention cause a computer <b>10</b> to function as an electronic ticket processing apparatus handling a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b>.

The computer <b>10</b> is provided with hardware components such as a CPU, a memory, and a hard disk drive, which are not shown. When a program stored in a medium according to the present invention is read by the computer <b>10</b>, the program and the hardware cooperate to realize each function of an electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>, an electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b>, an electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b>, and an authentication processing unit <b>50</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. For example, the functions of the electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b>, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> and the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> are mainly realized by the CPU and the memory. Moreover, for example, a storage area in the inside of the hard disk is used as the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>.

The medium in which the programs are stored, may be a storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a flash memory. The programs may be directly provided to the computer <b>10</b> from the storage medium, or the programs may be provide to the computer <b>10</b> through a network.

The functions in the inside of the computer <b>10</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may be realized by one program, or may be realized by a plurality of programs. For example, the functions of the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b> and the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> may be realized by the authentication processing program, and the functions of the electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b> and the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> may be realized by a ticket selection program provided as a tool for supporting the authentication processing program.

The computer <b>10</b> is a terminal device of a user using digital content such as image and text data. The digital content is provided from, for example, a content delivery server on a content providing side, or the like. In order to prevent abuses and illegal dispositions, the digital content is provided in a state in which encapsulation processing is performed. In order to decrypt the encapsulation, an electronic ticket <b>100</b> is needed.

The electronic ticket <b>100</b> is issued in accordance with the inherent information of the hardware such as the computer <b>10</b> employed by the user (in order to be able to be used only by the hardware), and the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is provided to the user from a ticket issue server or the like. Of course, an electronic ticket may be generated by the content delivery server on the contents providing side to be provided to the user. Content provision using the electronic ticket <b>100</b> makes it possible to permit the use of digital content only when a legitimate user uses the computer <b>10</b> corresponding to the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. Naturally, an electronic ticket <b>100</b> which can be used by a plurality of terminal devices used by a legitimate user uses may also be generated.

The operational authority (access rights) of a user is also given to the electronic ticket <b>100</b> as the conditions of use of the content. For example, the electronic ticket <b>100</b> can indicate whether or not the user is granted the authority of a printing operation, an editing operation, or the like of a digital content. By setting the operation authority appropriately, it becomes possible to permit only the browsing of a digital content to a user and to restrict the other operations, for example.

The effective electronic ticket <b>100</b> may not be restricted to be one ticket (or data equivalent) for each digital content, but a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> may be effective to one digital content. A plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to certain digital content is stored in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>. Furthermore, electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to other digital content may also be stored.

A grant state of operational authority to a user by the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is schematically shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. To the electronic ticket <b>100</b> of the present embodiment 1, setting of each of full access, print, annotation editing, text editing, copy, expiration date, and usage times is possible as the operation authority of the user. Naturally, the authorities which can be set in the electronic ticket <b>100</b> are not limited to those shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a circle in the lower column of an operation item indicates that the operation is permitted. That is, in the example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, full access and copying (duplication) are permitted, while the other operations are not permitted.

When the full access is permitted, a user having the electronic ticket <b>100</b> can change the attribute of the encapsulated digital content, and can use the digital content in full access mode. In the full access mode, for example, it becomes possible to store an original digital content, the encapsulation of which has been released in the hard disk in the own computer <b>10</b> to handle the stored original digital content freely. However, even when the full access is permitted, it is also possible to handle a digital content by the operation permitted by general operation authority such as the print, the annotation editing, the text editing, and copying without using the full access mode.

When printing is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, a user having the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is enabled to print the content, in addition to browsing the content. Moreover, when annotation editing is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, a user having the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is enabled to perform annotation editing, which inserts an annotation or the like into the content, in addition to browsing the content.

When text editing is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, a user having the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is able to edit the content (text), in addition to browsing the content. When the contents are not the text data, but, for example, image data or sound data, the editing of the images or sounds may also be permitted.

When copying is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, a user having the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is able to copy the content to another application on the memory in addition to browsing the content. For example, it is possible to insert the content into other text data or the like, but copying the content to an external hard drive or the like remains prohibited.

In addition to each operational authority mentioned above, it is possible to set the expiration date and the usage times of the ticket to an electronic ticket <b>100</b>. In the example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the expiration date “Jan. 1, 2006” is set to the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. When the expiration date is set, the electronic ticket <b>100</b> can be used up to the expiration date, and the ticket becomes invalid after the expiration date.

Moreover, in the example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, ten uses are set to the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. When the number of uses is so set, the electronic ticket <b>100</b> can be used only that many times. For example, if a ticket is used five times in full access mode and is used for copying five times, the ticket becomes invalid as it has been used 10 times.

A plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> may be stored in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>, and a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> effective to a certain digital content exist in the electronic tickets <b>100</b> in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>. Furthermore, settings of aspects of the operational authority performed to each of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> may differ in regards to a certain digital content. Consequently, it is possible to use a plurality of aspects of operational authority provided by combination of a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b>. In such a case, in the present Embodiment 1, the selection of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> optimum for effective authentication processing is performed automatically.

Hereinafter, the selection processing of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> in the present embodiment 1 will be described.

When provided digital content is used by the computer <b>10</b>, the electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b> extracts a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to the provided digital content out of a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> stored in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>. Next, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> compares the using conditions of the content included in each of the plurality of extracted electronic tickets <b>100</b>, and provides the electronic tickets <b>100</b> to the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> in the order of the “strength” of the using conditions (conditions of use of content), with those tickets authorizing wider access being considered “stronger” than those offering relatively narrower or more restricted access.

The authentication processing unit <b>50</b> executes authentication processing using the provided electronic tickets <b>100</b>. That is, the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> performs verification processing to determine whether or not the encapsulated digital content can be used using the provided electronic tickets <b>100</b>. When an authentication result is positive, the user is allowed use the digital content by the operation permitted by the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. On the other hand, when the authentication result is negative, the next electronic ticket <b>100</b> is provided from the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> to the authentication processing unit <b>50</b>, and the authentication processing is performed on that provided electronic ticket <b>100</b>. In such a way, the search of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> is performed until the authentication processing returns a positive result or all tickets are exhausted.

As one characteristic process of the present Embodiment 1, selection processing of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> by the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> can be cited.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a view for illustrating the selection processing of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> by the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b>. The electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> first performs grouping of a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to a certain digital content into two ticket groups according to whether or not full access is permitted. That is, the grouping is performed into two groups of a “full access permitted” group <b>200</b>, in which the full access is permitted, and a “full access prohibited” group <b>300</b>, for which full access is not permitted. Then, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the “full access permitted” group <b>200</b> is a group having high priority. That is, because the original digital content the encapsulation of which has been released can be used when the full access is permitted, all operations can be performed. Accordingly, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges the “full access permitted” group <b>200</b> to be a “strong” electronic ticket (group).

When a plurality of electronic tickets is included in the “full access permitted” group <b>200</b>, the permission state pertaining to the general operation authority of printing, annotation editing, text editing, and copying is verified, and an electronic ticket permitting a large number of operations is judged to be a ticket having high priority. In such a way, the electronic tickets are arranged in the “full access permitted” group <b>200</b> in the order of priority. When there are the tickets having the same number of the permitted operations, the priority order may be determined according to the permitted operations in such a way of imparting priority to the ticket by which the operation of the text editing is further permitted.

On the other hand, when a plurality of electronic tickets is included in the “full access prohibited” group <b>300</b>, further grouping is performed according to expiration date and the number of allowed uses. That is, the grouping is performed in accordance with the priority order of a “time unlimited, number of uses unlimited” group <b>310</b>, in which both of the expiration date and the usage times are not set, a “time unlimited, number of uses limited” group <b>320</b>, in which only the usage times are set, a “time limited, number of uses unlimited” group <b>330</b>, in which only the expiration date is set, and a “time limited, number of uses limited” group <b>340</b>, in which both of the expiration date and the usage times are set.

Moreover, when a plurality of electronic tickets is included in each of the groups from the “time unlimited, number of uses unlimited” group <b>310</b> to the “time limited, number of uses limited” group <b>340</b>, the permission state pertaining to the general operation authority of printing, annotation editing, text editing, and copying is verified in each group, and an electronic ticket having a large number of the permitted operations is judged to be a ticket having high priority.

In such a manner, the priority order of all of the plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to a certain digital content can be determined. Then, the electronic tickets are provided to the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> sequentially in the order of priority, and the authentication processing is performed. Consequently, it becomes possible to select the optimum electronic ticket for the efficient authentication processing at the time of using certain digital content.

For example, if authentication processing is first performed using an electronic ticket which does not authorize full access, it is necessary to further perform authentication processing using an electronic ticket which permits full access in order to subsequently use the content in the full access mode. That is, authentication processing is performed twice in such a case. On the contrary, in the present Embodiment 1, because an electronic ticket in permitting full access is used preferentially, it becomes possible to grant wide operation authority to a user after only oneauthentication processing.

Here, it should be noted that, although the “time unlimited, number of uses limited” group <b>320</b> is judged to be a group having higher priority than the “time limited, number of uses unlimited” group <b>330</b> in the example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the “time limited, number of uses unlimited” group <b>330</b> may be judged to be a group having higher priority than the “time unlimited, number of uses limited” group <b>320</b>. Moreover, further grouping may be performed also in the “full access permitted” group <b>200</b> according to the existence of the restriction of the expiration date and the usage times, and similarly in the “full access prohibited” group <b>300</b>. Moreover, a user may specify an operation (printing, annotation editing, text editing, or copying) for which permission is desired, and the priority of an electronic ticket which permits the specified operation may be elevated.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a view illustrating an Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows the functional configuration in the inside of a computer which operates in accordance with the programs stored in a medium according to the present invention. The programs stored in the medium according to the present invention enable a computer <b>10</b> to function as an electronic ticket processing apparatus for handling a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b>.

The computer <b>10</b> is provided with hardware components such as a CPU, a memory, and a hard disk drive, which are not shown. Then, by the cooperation of a program and a hardware configuration according to the present invention, each function of an electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>, an electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b>, an electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b>, an authentication processing unit <b>50</b> and a criterion setting unit <b>60</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is realized. For example, the functions of the electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b>, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b>, the authentication processing unit <b>50</b>, and the criterion setting unit <b>60</b> are mainly realized by the CPU and the memory. Moreover, for example, a storage area in the hard drive is used as the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>.

The medium, in which the programs are stored, may be a storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a flash memory. The programs may be directly provided to the computer <b>10</b> from the storage medium, or the programs may be provide to the computer <b>10</b> through a network.

The functions of the computer <b>10</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be realized by one program, or may be realized by a plurality of programs. For example, the functions of the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b> and the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> may be realized by the authentication processing program, and the functions of the electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b>, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b>, and the criterion setting unit <b>60</b> may be realized by a ticket selection program provided as a tool for supporting the authentication processing program (or an application program including the authentication processing program).

The computer <b>10</b> is a terminal device of a user of digital content such as image data and text data. The digital content is provided from, for example, a content delivery server on a content providing side, or the like. In order to prevent abuse and illegal dispositions, the digital content is provided in an encapsulated state. In order to decrypt the encapsulation, the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is needed.

The electronic ticket <b>100</b> is issued in accordance with the inherent information of the hardware such as the computer <b>10</b>, used by the user, and the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is provided to the user from a ticket issue server or the like. Naturally, an electronic ticket may also be generated by the content delivery server on the contents providing side to be provided to the user. By requiring the electronic ticket <b>100</b> when providing content, it becomes possible to permit the use of digital content only when a legitimate user uses the computer <b>10</b> corresponding to the electronic ticket <b>100</b>, for example. An electronic ticket <b>100</b> which can be used at any of a plurality of terminal devices used by a legitimate user may also be generated.

The conditions of use of the content are also indicated by the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. For example, the ticket can indicate whether or not the authority to request a printing operation, an editing operation, or the like is granted to a user in association with particular digital content. By setting the using conditions appropriately, it becomes possible to permit, for example, only the browsing of a digital content, while restricting other operations.

The effective electronic ticket <b>100</b> may not be restricted to be one ticket (or data equivalent) for each digital content, but a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> may be effective to one digital content. A plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to certain digital content is stored in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>. Furthermore, electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to other digital content may also be stored.

A grant state of the conditions of use of content by the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is schematically shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. To the electronic ticket <b>100</b> of the present embodiment 2, there are shown the using conditions (conditions of use of content) such as a payment method, given points, an expiration date, and allowed number of uses, in addition to the setting of the operational authority of a user such as printing, annotation editing, and text editing. Naturally, the conditions capable of being imparted to the electronic ticket <b>100</b> are not limited to the conditions shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, round marks in the lower column indicate which operations are permitted among printing, annotation editing, and text editing. That is, in the example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, a state in which printing and annotation editing are permitted, and the other operations are not permitted, is shown.

When printing is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, it becomes possible for the user of the electronic ticket <b>100</b> to print the content, in addition to browsing the content. Moreover, when annotation editing is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, it becomes possible for the user of the electronic ticket <b>100</b> to perform annotation editing, inserting annotation or the like into the content, in addition to browsing the content.

When text editing is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, it becomes possible for the user of the electronic ticket <b>100</b> to edit the content (text), in addition to browsing the content. When the content is not text data, but, for example, image or sound data, the edition of images or sounds may be permitted.

Authorizations for the likes of full access and copying may be set as the operational authority. When full access is permitted, the user of the electronic ticket <b>100</b> can change the attributes of the encapsulated digital content, and can use the digital content in a full access mode. In the full access mode, it becomes possible, for example, to store the original digital content, the encapsulation of which has been released, in the hard drive of the user's own computer <b>10</b> where the user can freely use the stored original digital content.

Moreover, when copying is permitted, by releasing the encapsulation of the encapsulated digital content, it becomes possible for the user of the electronic ticket <b>100</b> to copy the content to another application in that memory, in addition to browsing the content. For example, it is possible for the user to insert the content into other text data or the like. However, copying of the content to a hard drive or the like remains prohibited.

In addition to each operation authority noted above, information of the payment method and usage points is shown in the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. The payment method refers to the method of charging the user for use of the content by means of the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. Two such methods include a reserved method and a pay-as-you-go method. The reserved method is a payment method enabling unconfined use of a ticket (content) by paying a fixed charge for use of the ticket. On the other hand, the pay-as-you-go method is a payment method of paying a charge for each use of the ticket (each content accessed). In the example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the payment method of the electronic ticket <b>100</b> is set as the reserved payment.

Usage points refers to a service point given to a user according to the use of the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. For example, a predetermined number of points may be added each time the user uses the ticket (content), and service is provided to the user according to added points from the content provider or the like.

Moreover, it is possible to set the expiration date and the usage times of the ticket to the electronic ticket <b>100</b>.

In the example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the expiration date of Jan. 1, 2006 is set to the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. When the expiration date is set, the electronic ticket <b>100</b> can be used until the expiration date, and the ticket becomes invalid after the expiration date.

Moreover, in the example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, ten uses are set in the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. When the number of uses are set, the electronic ticket <b>100</b> can be used only that number of times. For example, if the user performs printing five times and copying five times, they will have used the ticket 10 times, and, if it is a 10 use ticket, the ticket will no longer be valid after the 10th use.

A plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> may be stored in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>, and a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> effective for certain digital content may be present among the electronic tickets <b>100</b> stored in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>. Furthermore, setting of different usage conditions is performed to each of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> effective for certain digital content. In the present embodiment 2, selection of electronic tickets <b>100</b> optimum for the authentication processing and advantageous for a user is performed.

Hereinafter, the selection processing of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> in the present embodiment 2 will be described.

When provided digital content is used by the computer <b>10</b>, the electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b> extracts a plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> corresponding to the provided digital content from among the plurality of electronic tickets <b>100</b> stored in the electronic ticket storage unit <b>20</b>. Next, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> compares the using conditions of the content included in each of the plurality of extracted electronic tickets <b>100</b>, and provides the electronic tickets <b>100</b> to the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> in the order of their priority.

The authentication processing unit <b>50</b> executes authentication processing using the provided electronic tickets <b>100</b>. That is, the authentication processing unit <b>50</b> performs verification processing to verify whether or not the provided electronic tickets <b>100</b> authorize use of the encapsulated digital content. When an authentication result is positive, the user can use the digital content by the operation permitted by the electronic ticket <b>100</b>. On the other hand, when the authentication result is negative, the next electronic ticket <b>100</b> is provided from the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> to the authentication processing unit <b>50</b>, and the authentication processing is performed using the provided electronic ticket <b>100</b>. In such a way, all electronic tickets <b>100</b> are searched until the authentication processing can be performed successfully.

As one of the characteristics of the present Embodiment 2, selection processing of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> by the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> can be cited.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flowchart illustrating the selection processing of the electronic tickets <b>100</b> by the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b>. In the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the comparison of priority of two electronic tickets (ticket <b>1</b> and ticket <b>2</b>) is shown. When three or more electronic tickets are compared, the comparison of the priority of all of the three or more electronic tickets can be performed by performing the comparison of the priority of all of the combinations of the two electronic tickets realized by the three or more electronic tickets in accordance with the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. In the following, the processing at each step shown in the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is described.

(Step S<b>401</b>) The electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> verifies whether or not the payment method of the ticket <b>1</b> among the tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> included in a plurality of the electronic tickets corresponding to a certain digital content extracted by the electronic ticket extraction unit <b>30</b> is the pay-as-you-go method. Then, when it is determined that the payment method of the ticket <b>1</b> is the pay-as-you-go method, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority should be given to the ticket <b>2</b>, and ends processing. On the other hand, when the payment method of the ticket <b>1</b> is not the pay-as-you-go method, the processing proceeds to the next step.

(Step S<b>402</b>) When the payment method of the ticket <b>1</b> is not the pay-as-you-go method, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> verifies whether or not the payment method of the ticket <b>2</b> is the pay-as-you-go method. Then, when it is determined that the payment method of the ticket <b>2</b> is the pay-as-you-go method, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority should be given to the ticket <b>1</b>, and ends processing. On the other hand, when the payment method of the ticket <b>2</b> is not the pay-as-you-go method, the processing proceeds to the next step.

(Step S<b>403</b>) Next, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> compares the number of points imparted to each of the tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. Then, when the ticket <b>1</b> has more points, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority is given to the ticket <b>1</b> and, when the ticket <b>2</b> has more points, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority should be given to the ticket <b>2</b>, and ends processing. When the numbers of the given points are the same, including when both of the tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> have no remaining points, the processing proceeds to the next step.

(Step S<b>404</b>) Next, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> verifies whether not the allowed uses of the ticket <b>1</b> is limited or. Then, when it is determined that the number of uses of the ticket <b>1</b> is not restricted, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority should be given to the ticket <b>1</b>, and ends processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of uses of the ticket <b>1</b> is restricted, the processing proceeds to the next step.

(Step S<b>405</b>) When the number of times the ticket can be used is restricted, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> verifies whether or not the number of times the ticket <b>2</b> is restricted. Then, when the number of uses of the ticket <b>2</b> has no restriction, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority should be given to the ticket <b>2</b>, and the processing is ended. On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of uses of the ticket <b>2</b> is restricted, the processing proceeds to the next step.

(Step S<b>406</b>) The electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> compares the expiration dates of the tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. Then, when the expiration date of the ticket <b>1</b> is earlier, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority should be given to the ticket <b>1</b>. When the expiration date of the ticket <b>2</b> is earlier, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> judges that the priority should be given to the ticket <b>2</b>, and ends the processing. When the expiration dates are the same, including cases where neither of the tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> has any expiration date, the processing proceeds to the next step.

(Step S<b>407</b>) Then, the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> compares restriction of the uses of the tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, and gives the priority to the ticket having a larger remaining number of remaining allowed uses. That is, when the remaining number of uses of the ticket <b>1</b> is larger, the priority is given to the ticket <b>1</b>. On the other hand, when the remaining number of uses of the tickets <b>2</b> is larger, the priority is given to the ticket <b>2</b>, and the processing is ended. When the remaining numbers of the usage times of the tickets <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> are the same, the priority is given to the ticket <b>2</b>. In such a way, the priority is given to either the ticket <b>1</b> or the ticket <b>2</b>.

It should be note that, although the priority is given to the ticket having an earlier expiration dateat Step S<b>406</b> in the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the priority may be given to the ticket having a later expiration date when so desired. Similarly, although the priority is given to the ticket having a larger remaining number of the uses at Step S<b>407</b> in the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the priority may be given to the ticket having a fewer remaining uses.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the comparison procedure of the priority shown in the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> can also be modified. That is, although each condition of use is compared in the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> in the order of the comparison pertaining to the payment of a charge (Steps S<b>401</b> and S<b>402</b>), the comparison of the given points (Step S<b>403</b>), the comparison of the existence of available usage times (Steps S<b>404</b> and S<b>405</b>), the comparison of the expiration date (Step S<b>406</b>), and the comparison of the remaining number of the usage times (Step S<b>407</b>), the order of the comparisons of these using conditions can also be modified. Furthermore, using conditions other than those shown in the flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may be added to the comparison objects.

Such modification or resetting of the order of comparisons of the using conditions and the setting of the using conditions for comparison are performed in the criterion setting unit <b>60</b>. That is, the criterion setting unit <b>60</b> sets the comparisons by the flowchart shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> as the preset criteria, for example, and, on the other hand, changes the criteria according to a criterion change operation or the like requested by a user. When the criterion change operation is received from the user, the criterion setting unit <b>60</b> generates a graphical user interface (GUI) image(screen) for setting a criterion.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a view illustrating a GUI image for setting a criterion. A criterion setting image <b>500</b> is a GUI image for setting and changing a criterion at the time of judging the priority of an electronic ticket. The criterion setting image <b>500</b> is displayed, for example, on the monitor of a computer.

The criterion setting image <b>500</b> is provided with a comparison order display portion <b>504</b> displaying each using condition in the order of comparisons, priority order change buttons <b>502</b> for changing the comparison orders (priority orders) of the using conditions, a using condition display portion <b>506</b> displaying the using conditions to be added or deleted, and the like.

In the comparison order display portion <b>504</b>, the currently set comparison order is displayed. When the comparison order is changed, a user moves the cursor to a condition the order of which the user wants to change in the comparison order display portion <b>504</b>. The cursor is set to the “payment method” in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. Then, to raise the priority order of the using condition corresponding to the cursor, the user clicks on the “up” button found among the priority order change buttons <b>502</b>. On the other hand, to lower the priority order, the user clicks on the “down” button. The criterion setting unit <b>60</b> changes the priority order according to the operation of the change button <b>502</b> by the user, and causes the results to be reflected in the comparison order display portion <b>504</b>. For example, when an operation of raising the priority order of the “payment method” is performed by the user in the state in which the priority order of the “expiration date” is set to be higher than that of the “payment method” as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the priority order of the “payment method” is changed to be higher than that of the “expiration date”.

Moreover, to add an additional usage condition item to the set comparison order, the cursor is set to the usage condition desired to be added among the items of the using conditions displayed on the using condition display portion <b>506</b>, and then the “addition” button is selected. For example, when the “addition” button is selected in the state in which the cursor is set to the “usage times” as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the “usage times” is added as a criterion, and the added result is displayed in the comparison order display portion <b>504</b>. On the other hand, to delete an item from the set comparison order, the cursor is set to the usage condition for which deletion is desired among the items of the using conditions displayed in the comparison order display portion <b>504</b>, and then the “exclusion” button is selected. For example, when the “exclusion” button is slected in the state in which the cursor is set to the “payment method” as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the “payment method” is deleted from the criteria, and as the deletion result the display of the “payment method” also disappears from the comparison order display portion <b>504</b>.

By using the criterion setting image <b>500</b> in such a manner, the user can easily change a criterion. Moreover, as the method of setting the criteria, in addition to the method of setting the criteria through a GUI such as the criterion setting image <b>500</b>, tools such as a text editor may be used to set the criteria in an initialization file and a registry and may cause the computer read the criteria. For example, in the case where a ticket having an early expiration date is given the priority and also a ticket having a small remaining number of the usage times is given the priority when the expiration dates are the same, the following character string may be inserted into the initialization file using a text editor:

$ValidityDate^A RemainingTimes^A

(“ValidityDate” indicates an expiration date, “RemainingTimes” indicates remaining usage times, and “A” indicates an ascending order.)

Moreover, in the Embodiment 2, the electronic ticket to be selected may be selected by a user among the electronic tickets searched by the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b>.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6A and 6B</figref> are views for illustrating GUI images by which a user may select an electronic ticket. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6A</figref> is a selection image displayed when two or more electronic tickets have the same priority. The flowchart of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> described earlier describes the criterion by which either the ticket <b>1</b> or the ticket <b>2</b> is selected. However, when the criterion is changed by the criterion setting unit <b>60</b>, there is the possibility that a plurality of tickets having the same priority order may be searched. Accordingly, when the electronic tickets having the same priority order exist, a selection image of an electronic ticket is displayed on the monitor of a computer or the like. In the example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6A</figref>, two tickets, the ticket T<b>1</b> and the ticket T<b>2</b>, are located at the same priority, and the example is a image for prompting a user to select one of these electronic tickets. The user sets the cursor to the ticket to be selected, and selects the electronic ticket with a selection button operation or the like. The example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6A</figref> shows the state in which the cursor is set to the ticket T<b>1</b>.

Moreover, the priority order set by the electronic ticket selection unit <b>40</b> may be set in a manner that can be changed by the user. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6B</figref> is a view showing a priority order change image, and shows a state in which the priority order has been set in the order of the ticket T<b>2</b>, the ticket T<b>3</b> and the ticket T<b>1</b>. In this state, a user sets the cursor to a ticket the priority order of which the user wants to change, and changes the priority order by performing a button operation of changing the priority order toward a higher priority, or a button operation of changing the priority order toward a lower priority. In the example of FIG. <b>6</b>B, the cursor is set to a ticket T<b>1</b>. When the user performs a button operation of changing the ticket toward a higher priority, the ticket T<b>1</b> is changed to have a higher priority than that of ticket T<b>3</b>. In such away, the configuration which leaves the final selection of an electronic ticket to a user is realizable.

As described above, although embodiments (Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2) of the present invention have been described, the examples use to illustrate the embodiments as described above are only illustrations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 3</figref>, although the computer <b>10</b> which functions as an electronic ticket processing apparatus has been described, a portable information terminal such as a personal digital assistance (PDA) may be used as the electronic ticket processing apparatus in place of the computer <b>10</b>.

Moreover, an electronic ticket processing apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic ticket processing apparatus selecting an optimum electronic ticket among a plurality of electronic tickets for imparting a rights of use of content, wherein the electronic ticker processing apparatus includes an extraction unit that extracts a plurality of electronic tickets corresponding to the content, and a selection unit that selects the optimum electronic ticket by comparing conditions of use of content included in each of the extracted electronic tickets.

Moreover, an electronic ticket selection method of the present invention is an electronic ticket selection method for selecting an optimum electronic ticket among a plurality of electronic tickets for imparting rights of use of content, comprising: extracting a plurality of electronic tickets corresponding to the content; and selecting the optimum electronic ticket by comparing conditions of use of content included in each of the extracted plurality of electronic tickets.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-041652 filed on Feb. 18, 2005 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-050502 filed on Feb. 25, 2005 including their specifications, clams, drawings, and abstracts is incorporated herein by reference.